The AppAdvice tech week in review: Apple's iOS 9 arrives, watchOS 2 does not
The biggest story of the week: iOS 9 and ad blocking are here
On Wednesday, Apple released iOS 9 to the general public. The latest operating system for the iPhone/iPod touch and iPad was first announced in June. Apple’s iOS 9 includes a number of new features including the ability to block ads in mobile Safari. This feature has proven quite popular with users, with two third-party ad blockers at the top of the App Store sales list, Crystal, and Purify Blocker.
In a surprising move, developer Marco Arment pulled his popular iOS 9 content blocker Peace from the App Store. The app quickly raced to No. 1 on the App Store’s paid charts in the United States.
In a lengthy blog post, entitled “Just doesn’t feel good,” Arment explains his decision:
Achieving this much success with Peace just doesn’t feel good, which I didn’t anticipate, but probably should have. Ad blockers come with an important asterisk: while they do benefit a ton of people in major ways, they also hurt some, including many who don’t deserve the hit.
Peace required that all ads be treated the same — all-or-nothing enforcement for decisions that aren’t black and white. This approach is too blunt, and Ghostery and I have both decided that it doesn’t serve our goals or beliefs well enough. If we’re going to effect positive change overall, a more nuanced, complex approach is required than what I can bring in a simple iOS app.
See also: What can an iOS 9 content blocker do for me and why does it matter?
Also making news: Apple Watch users in limbo
It will be a few more days before Apple Watch users can experience watchOS 2. The update, which was supposed to be released alongside iOS 9, was pulled after the discovery of a software bug.
Other tech news:
- Low supplies of iPhone 6s Plus are a ‘light’ issue
- Apple steps up its game with new iCloud Storage pricing
- Apple Pay now lets you use the Discover card in your Wallet
- Amazon takes aim at Apple with new 4K-enabled Fire TV
Big app news
Created exclusively for NBA Live 16 is an app that puts you in the game, for real. The NBA Live Companion app lets you use a feature called GameFaceHD where you scan your face and become part of the NBA Live 16 game on your Xbox One or PlayStation 4.
Other app news:
- Discover new apps the social way with Picker
- Head to the bridge, Star Trek – Wrath of Gems has a mission
- Get your iPad Picture in Picture with Pocket, Hulu and more
- It will be up to you to save the gaming world in HoPiKo
What’s coming up? The week ahead
Unite 2015 kicks off tomorrow, Sept. 21 in Boston, Massachusetts. The developer event runs until Wednesday.
Also starting Monday: Startup Europe comes to the Silicon Valley. The five-day event is being held in Mountain View, California.
On Friday, Sept. 25, the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus arrive in stores. Both models will be available in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
